1998 Ford Explorer — MOT failures & pass rate
504 MOT tests on the 1998 Ford Explorer are in this dataset, and 72.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 1.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.3%) and lighting & signalling (14.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, ball joint dust cover and ball joint — prescribed areas alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Explorer fails 29.7% of the time in the 60-90k band and 27.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.8% in 2021 to 18.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.3% | 77 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 74 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.3% | 67 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 46 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.1% | 36 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 38 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 37 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 29 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 5 | Decelerometer (sp) | 28 |
| 6 | Linkage pins and bushes | 24 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.9% | 186 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.7% | 180 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.0% | 131 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.4% | 108 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 94 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 70 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 91 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 218 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 153 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 119 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 98 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 75 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 59 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Explorer
On a 1998 Explorer, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Ford Explorers pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 504 1998 Ford Explorer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Ford Explorer?
Brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.7%).
Does the 1998 Explorer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.7% in the 60-90k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 504 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.